The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-10-21

Farmers Alliance had been working
for three years to start farmers cooper
alive alliances and that they now dotted
the state and were uniformly successful.
He stated, however, that they had thus
far been started in small places only and
he did not know whether one would
succeed as well in place the size of
Mankato. He thought that the margin
above market prices must be smaller
here, but that better prices would be
secured. He stated that the most de-
pended upon the location of the ware
house and said that it should be located
upon two lines of railroads. He was in
favor of shipping wheat to Iowa instead
of Minneapolis, as at the latter place
Southern Minnesota wheat was graded
down too much. He said that wheat
from this section of the state was pre-
ferred in southern markets to that from
the northern portion of the state. He
had learned this when he was in the
state service. He read a letter showing
the beneficial effects of the Delavan or
ganization and giving the statistics OF
the business there. 1t had been organ
lied two years and had paid ten per
cent. profit on the investment. There
were 100 members and the shares cost
SIS each. The merchants never had a
better trade and real estate had advanc-
ed twenty-five per cent.
Being asked as to the feeling in Man
kato concerning the plan, Messrs. F. L.
Waters and ]. &. Wise stated that ii
was, so far as they knew, very favorable
to it. The former stated that he thought
it would be good thing both for the
merchants and for the farmers. He said
that the organization would probably
not have been successful year ago; but
now, on account of the interstate COM
merce law, it would.
Mr.. Diamond stated that for some
reason the feeling at Waseca was against
the organization there.
Mr.. Waters answered a number OF
questions in regard to wheat rates. He
said that when he got the same rates to
Chicago as Minneapolis did he could
afford to pay Minneapolis prices for
wheat, and quoted prices and rates TO
show why more could not be paid here
as compared with prices paid at Mime
apolis and Chicago. He said that his
best trade was now west of here and
that only the fancy prices that were re-
ceiVed East made it pay there. He
agreed to take all wheat off oftheir hands
at higher prices than they could receive
elsewhere, in case the farmers organized
and conducted the business alone. He
stated that he bought annually a large
amount of wheat from the farmers ele-
vators and had at that time $4,000 bush
els obtained from them. He stated that
under the old laws the farmers were Of
ten shamefully skinned, but that under
the new laws all were on an equal foot
ing.
Mr.. Diamond thought that the Man
kato merchants ought to back the asso-
cation, if formed, up 10 the man.
Mr.. Adam Arnold said that if the
farmers knew they could get stable pri-
ces here they would come in from ali
over.
Mr.. Waters stated that 24O, 900 bushels
of wheat hal been received in Mankato
by team last year, while he thought that
$50, 600 bushels would be received this
year. Naturally Waseca was not as
we'll located as Mankato, but she had
received 470, 1000 bushels last year. 1t
was the plan of the Minneapolis & St.
Louis road to build up mills and to make
markets along its line and it gave a
lower rate to effect this. Its mills were
never known to fail.
The articles of incorporation and by
laws of the Delevan organization were
read.
Mr.. H. Brules offered the following
resolution which was adopted:
Resolved, as the sense of this meeting,
that We are in favor of the proposition
to organize and maintain farmers
warehouse at Mankato, and that the
president of this meeting be requested
to appoint committee of five to pre-
pare form of organization to be re-
ported at future meeting of friends of
this enterprise.
The following committee was appoint
ed: Messrs. N. Brules, II. Matteson. d.
T. Rasdell, Adam Arnold and julius
Just.
Mr.. Diamond moved that commit
tee be appointed TO secure grounds or
warehouse near a railroad. The motion
was carried and the following commit
tee appointed: Messrs. Adam Arnold,
chairman, Geo. w. Haigh, John Dia-
mond, Geo. McMahil and Andrew
Anderegg.
Mr.. Waters offered his old warehouse
in case an organization was effected and
stated that if they did not organize he
would buy the same produce that they
had intended to. Although there is no
sidetrack to the warehouse, which is
located on Washington street, near the
big mill, the farmers present thought
that it was good location.
The meeting adjourned until Saturday
afternoon, Oct. 20, at one o'clock, VIXEN
an endeavor win be made to secure
large attendance and an organization
will undoubtedly be effected.